Qingxu paused, teacup in hand, as if he hadn't expected her to ask that.
The melodious cry of a white crane drifted over from distant Huiping Peak, leaving the Peak Master's hall of Taiyi Peak eerily silent.
“Why has everyone gone quiet?”
Gu Lianxue fidgeted with the hem of her robes. “Am I making things difficult for you? I didn't mean to. I just wanted to seize every opportunity to improve myself. I didn't think it would cause trouble for you all.”
“Little Junior Sister, Master already explained it. With my cultivation at Qi Refining level one at the time, I wasn't even suited to attend the Dao discussion meeting. You have only just achieved qi induction.”
Bu Hongyu massaged his temples. “It's not that we're worried about you causing trouble; it's simply a matter of whether your cultivation is appropriate for the event.” He let out a deep sigh. “Also, Little Junior Sister, could you please just speak normally? Every time I hear you talk, it feels... off. As if someone is constantly bullying or blaming you.”
“I'm sorry, Second Senior Brother. I... I didn't know it was related to cultivation. I thought the restriction was based on how long one had been in the sect.”
Gu Lianxue's eyelashes fluttered like a startled fawn. “I know I'm not good enough, but I will work hard.”
“I never said you weren't good enough.” Bu Hongyu frowned deeply. “Forget it, you'd better just stop talking.”
“Second Senior Brother, I...”
“Fine, fine, Little Junior Sister. It's my fault. I'll stop talking.” Bu Hongyu pressed his brow firmly and took a deep breath.
Qingxu sat cross-legged at the head of the hall, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his teacup. He didn't move or speak.
His gaze was unfocused, appearing to rest on Gu Lianxue, yet he seemed immersed in deep thought.
Kang Heng observed Qingxu's expression and movements closely, a trace of disappointment and helplessness flashing in his eyes.
Does Master actually intend to give the slot to Little Junior Sister?
His fingers gripped the edge of the table until they were a bloodless white, blue veins bulging across the back of his hand. Kang Heng's lips thinned into a hard line, his very breathing turning heavy.
Qingxu's focus returned, settling fully on Gu Lianxue as he leaned forward slightly.
“Taiyi Peak does indeed have one slot remaining.”
Gu Lianxue sat up straight, squaring her shoulders and staring at Qingxu without blinking.
She had just parted her lips to speak.
But before she could say a word—
Crack!
The corner of the table was crushed in Kang Heng's grip.
Gu Lianxue cried out in surprise and jumped to the side.
“I'm currently on the verge of breaking through from the early Golden Core stage to the middle stage. My spirit energy is a bit out of control,” Kang Heng said, shaking his hand. “My apologies, Little Junior Sister. I didn't hurt you, did I?”
“No... no, I'm fine. I was just startled.” Gu Lianxue clutched her robes and slowly sat back down on her meditation mat, careful not to touch the table.
“Startled by just that? If your courage is so lacking, how will you ever handle a major event?” Kang Heng shook his head. “Little Junior Sister, a practitioner cannot be so timid.”
“That is true. Xue'er is indeed still a bit too weak,” Qingxu said, his leaning posture returning to upright.
“The slot in Master's hands was reserved by the sect for Third Junior Sister, wasn't it?”
Qingxu did not respond, but Kang Heng didn't mind.
“A few days ago, I passed by the Cliff of Reflection and heard the sound of someone practicing the sword. Master, can you guess who it was?”
“The Cliff of Reflection is equipped with an array that leaves it devoid of any spirit energy. How could she practice the sword?”
Even if she didn't channel spirit energy into the blade and only practiced basic strikes, a body without the nourishment of spirit energy would be unable to endure the hardships of sword training.
Qingxu's gaze shifted from Gu Lianxue to Kang Heng.
Mockery and bitterness surged within him; Kang Heng almost wanted to laugh out loud.
So you do know that there isn't a trace of spirit energy on the Cliff of Reflection.
If she doesn't practice the sword, what else can she do? Meditate and cultivate?
Ultimately, he maintained a respectful demeanor. “I asked her the same thing at the time. Third Junior Sister only said four words.”
“Flawless Sword Heart.”
Qingxu's gaze froze, his throat feeling as though it were blocked. He couldn't find any words.
Three years ago, before Fei Bai went to the Cliff of Reflection, the last thing she had said to him were those same four words.
Flawless Sword Heart.
He knew what she meant. She was telling him that she had not used her sword qi to harm Gu Lianxue, that she had not harmed an innocent, nor had she harmed a fellow disciple.
Her sword heart remained flawless.
It was just that Xue'er...
Qingxu looked at Gu Lianxue's face, his gaze gradually turning distant.
It was as if he were looking through the child before him to another person from the long river of time.
He hadn't taken good care of her daughter.
Xue'er resembled Nan.
He couldn't bear to see that face show a sorrowful expression.
For some reason, Xue'er's spirit root prevented her from cultivating, but a progeny disciple of the Taiyi Peak Master could not be a useless person.
He needed a reason—a justifiable reason to take Xue'er in that would silence the gossiping tongues.
Fei Bai... in the end, he had truly wronged his third disciple.
“Master, Third Junior Sister also asked me to bring you something.”
Qingxu's heart trembled. “What is it?”
Kang Heng produced a jade slip and presented it with both hands.
Qingxu snatched it away. As soon as he probed it with his spirit energy, his back stiffened.
Every word and sentence within the jade slip was a question Fei Bai had encountered during her cultivation.
Words he had spoken in the past seemed to echo in his ears.
“Your master is going into secluded cultivation for a while. If you have any doubts, record them in a jade slip first, and I will answer them all when I emerge.”
“My disciples, I will be away for a period of time. As before, just record your questions in a jade slip.”
“Kang Heng, Hongyu, Fei Bai, your master...”
There were many disciples within the Star-Moon Sect. For the sake of resources and slots, the competition between peaks—and even within them—was significant.
Aside from their own disciples, many cultivators were accustomed to being secretive with their knowledge. To live in peace without plotting against one another was already considered good sect camaraderie, let alone providing detailed guidance and answering questions.
Therefore, whenever he had business to attend to, he would leave his disciples with those instructions.
In the years since he had taken Xue'er as his disciple, although he had been searching everywhere for news regarding spirit root compatibility, he spent most of his time within the sect.
He regularly monitored the cultivation of Kang Heng and Bu Hongyu.
Xue'er's spirit root had caused him even more worry.
Only Fei Bai.
Only Fei Bai had been neglected.
Even though her master was right there in the sect, she was forced to ask questions in such a manner.
If Kang Heng hadn't gone to the Cliff of Reflection, what would Fei Bai have done?
Fei Bai was also his disciple. She was the disciple he had personally taught for over forty years. She was the disciple he was most proud of.
A high-grade wood spirit root, and at the peak Foundation Establishment stage at fifty years old. She was the disciple with the greatest hope of achieving core formation before sixty, earning the title of the Star-Moon Sect's youngest Golden Core Perfected Person.
Even while confined to the spiritless Cliff of Reflection, she had not forgotten her cultivation.
Since she couldn't meditate, she practiced the sword and reviewed the spells she had previously learned. She had even gained new insights from the old, developing new ideas and new questions.
Gu Lianxue looked from Qingxu to Kang Heng, her gaze finally landing on the jade slip in Qingxu's hand.
She felt like an outsider.
Gu Lianxue suppressed the thought and forced a sweet, obedient smile.
“Master, all these years I...”
Rate on N.U.
